Common lawn problems

Weeds

A weed is defined as any plant growing in the wrong place ie.where it is not wanted. Even in the most well managed turf, weeds will find there way in, be they from seed blown in on the wind, spread from adjoining gardens or from birds droppings.

Solutions:

The most effective method of getting rid of weeds is to use a selective herbicide which ideally needs to be applied as a liquid. By selective, we mean a product which whilst killing weeds does not have any adverse effect on the health of the surrounding grass. Applying a weed killer as a granule is simply not as effective as using a liquid. There is no single product available to either the general public or to the professional market that is effective on all types of weeds.

Weed controls are best applied when the plant is actively growing and therefore able to take-in the weed killer and move it around itself. In other words there is not much point in applying weed controls during the winter months.

Some common lawn weeds, such as daisy (bellis perennis), buttercup (ranunculus) and dandelion (taraxacum officinale) can normally be eliminated following a single application of product. Others such as trefoil (trifolium dubium), clover (trifolium repens) and selfheal (prunella vulgaris) are more persistant and require repeat applications. Unfortunately there are also a few which if they have a significant presence are a complete nuisance. Germander Speedwell (veronica chamaedrys) is one that fits into this classification. Fortunately they are few and far between.